Tamiya 1:35 Tiger I ~First build

[Duck]

Hello!
Im new to the forum and new to tank kits, so please, don't expect amazing work!
I was watching Coen's youtube videos and he inspired me to change from farm models to tanks. I have a fascination of World war two machinery so I bought myself a Tamiya Tiger I.
Unfortunately it didn't have 'Zimmerit' on the cast so I jumped into the deep-end with what ever I could find.. Due to the lack of modelling putty I had to use air dry clay which hopefully wont crack and fall off, but you learn from your mistake I suppose! In a couple of hours I have completed the road wheels and underbelly hull.

Here is the progress! Im really sorry it isn't great quality build, keep in mind that its my first build..







I achived the Zimmer using a penknife.. trust me, when painted it should look a lot better! (hopefully...)

[ForbesHutton]

Tamiya is a great choice for a first build, they normally fall together and offer pretty good results for an entry level kit.

Brave of you to try making your own Zimmerit. I'm not sure if clay will cure and stay on the model, let us know. If you need to try the Zimmerit again, Coen has a video up about it:

[HWGuderian23]

Looking really good so far Duck ! Am curious to see your further progress on this Tiger mate

[Duck]

Looking really good so far Duck ! Am curious to see your further progress on this Tiger mate

Tamiya is a great choice for a first build, they normally fall together and offer pretty good results for an entry level kit.

Brave of you to try making your own Zimmerit. I'm not sure if clay will cure and stay on the model, let us know. If you need to try the Zimmerit again, Coen has a video up about it:

I would like to say thanks very much for responding and thank you for the link I will be looking out for those tools!

The clay has dried nice and is firm to the plastic but it wont hold up very much resistance towards scratching or any kind of rough handling!

[badpirate]

Looking good so far Tamiya does make some fairly good starter kits. I'm still honing the basic skills with them before going into the deep end

Mike

[Duck]

Not going too badly now... well... I made a right cock ear of the zimmerit but have decided to keep at it and glue the chipped parts on... I have finished the main armour and hatches and for a first attempt I'm pretty chuffed! Shes ready for paint, but the means I have to save for a aircompressor and airbrush but in the meantime, I could buy the king tiger but then I would really have to find good zimmerit tools!
The idea after this would be the diorama. The tiger will be painted in grey with weathering and foliage, I have been farm modeling for years and this is what I am exceptional at! The plan will be to have long thin strands of thick grass surrounding it but for it to have just emerged from the woodland or just waiting for a pack of wild Sherman's to prance in front of it.
What do you think?

[RobertK]

I guess it will feel quite heavy with clay on it, interesting choice of material. Hope it gonna work, it looks good

[Duck]

Well, I did watch some videos on it but im not patient and I was eager to get on with the kit so I bought clay, which was all the shop had, on the next build I will use putty, now I'm working out how to do the tracks as they don't clip together...

Regards

Duck

[Coen]

A pack of wild Shermans Prancing hahaha.. now that was a crazy image Duck. haha.

Wow... this is a really cool experiment in materials buddy. I'm interested in how well paint will stick to it.
I would advise priming it first to try and give some strength to the surface of the clay before you start painting the main colour.
I've never seen this stuff used before so I wouldn't guess what will happen when paint gets on it.
I think that primer might help protect it from any weathering that you do later too.
You're really taking the bull by the horns aren't ya...a Tiger I for your first build and with zimmerit.
Wow...!!!

[Hanger2]

I have used air dry clay for my dio's it takes paint well but do prime it first, nice idea for zimmerit with watch with interest on how it turns out.
Did you rough up the plastic where the clay was going, that would have helped it stick to the plastic.

Geoff

[Duck]

I have used air dry clay for my dio's it takes paint well but do prime it first, nice idea for zimmerit with watch with interest on how it turns out.
Did you rough up the plastic where the clay was going, that would have helped it stick to the plastic.

Geoff

A pack of wild Shermans Prancing hahaha.. now that was a crazy image Duck. haha.

Wow... this is a really cool experiment in materials buddy. I'm interested in how well paint will stick to it.
I would advise priming it first to try and give some strength to the surface of the clay before you start painting the main colour.
I've never seen this stuff used before so I wouldn't guess what will happen when paint gets on it.
I think that primer might help protect it from any weathering that you do later too.
You're really taking the bull by the horns aren't ya...a Tiger I for your first build and with zimmerit.
Wow...!!!

Thank you both! And yeah, I did blow torch chicken wire to heat it and mould ditches to the side, not the back, also I got a grade of mediam sand paper and just went over it! I didnt do the back because there was quite a lot of detail I didn't want to cover because the zimmerit is fairly thick on mine :/

And I will put primer on, a nice coat rosemary and Massey cherry, then black for high lights and the last coat will be depending on what battle it is in

Best regards

Duck

[Duck]

Shes back...

Don't get excited, but I did just buy a £80 air compressor kit for the tiger and some paint, this is how she turned out.. This is my first time I have EVER used a airbrush, it took me a awhile to play with the paint but it turns out it doesn't need any water! fantastic! The pattern is based on the Italy camouflage, I haven't done with it, I still need to add dust, dirt, wire and I dont know if its realistic so please tell me, but would they have cloth rags or netting on the barrels for extra camouflage? because I want to see how much I can add without buying extra for it, if you know what I mean?









The pictures didn't come out as nice as I hoped but you get the picture! (eh eh huehuehue)

Regards

Duck

[Coen]

That's the first time that you've ever used an airbrush?
Ok.... Ummm wow.
Duck that's pretty good buddy, I'm amazed at how well you controlled the overspray onto the yellow. Freaking awesome!
I didn't do anywhere near that good my first, second, or thirteenth time.
Well done dude, you keep this up and you'll be dangerous haha

[Duck]

That's the first time that you've ever used an airbrush?
Ok.... Ummm wow.
Duck that's pretty good buddy, I'm amazed at how well you controlled the overspray onto the yellow. Freaking awesome!
I didn't do anywhere near that good my first, second, or thirteenth time.
Well done dude, you keep this up and you'll be dangerous haha

Well, getting the same consistency was the easy part, I have a turny screw on the end of my airbrush which limits how much I pull back on

You could say.. Jack of all trades, master of none.

Regards

Duck

[MarkVerploeg]

very inpressive for a first time armor build
and i know what you mean with the paint and airbrush
i got my airbrush about 18 months ago so i can remember my first try

and if i may give a suggestion with the zimmerit
if you want to use clay , roll it out to a thin sheet for about 1mm max thickness
then place it on your models surface and cut off the rough edges with a hobby knife
then when you are happy.with how it sits you can start the zimmerit ridges
i think you get the best result when you use a small flat screwdriver about 5 mm wide
then get a small cup of water,you use this to keep the head of the screwdriver wet/moist so the clay won't stick to it
and then you make vertical rows of limes working from the bottom upwards
makeing sure that you keep the screwdriver wet and that you working in straight lines
this should give you a more life like look to the zimmerit

and further on : keep up the good work
cheers Mark

[Duck]

very inpressive for a first time armor build
and i know what you mean with the paint and airbrush
i got my airbrush about 18 months ago so i can remember my first try

and if i may give a suggestion with the zimmerit
if you want to use clay , roll it out to a thin sheet for about 1mm max thickness
then place it on your models surface and cut off the rough edges with a hobby knife
then when you are happy.with how it sits you can start the zimmerit ridges
i think you get the best result when you use a small flat screwdriver about 5 mm wide
then get a small cup of water,you use this to keep the head of the screwdriver wet/moist so the clay won't stick to it
and then you make vertical rows of limes working from the bottom upwards
makeing sure that you keep the screwdriver wet and that you working in straight lines
this should give you a more life like look to the zimmerit

and further on : keep up the good work
cheers Mark

I only used clay because I couldn't wait for milput but in future I will bookmark this page, thank you for your honest opinion and the tip, I never thought of using a screwdriver for it

Regards

Duck

[Paul]

Nice work duck, what paint did you use?

[MarkVerploeg]

in that case same procedure
i found that when you use milliput you should use some talkum or baby powder so it won't stick to the surface that is used to make the sheet
when you want to apply it to the model just wet one side with water
and if you have s pare clay left you can make sandbags or use it in a diorama

[Duck]

Nice work duck, what paint did you use?

Well Paul, I'm a beautiful person and with my handsome looks I need the best paint!

in that case same procedure
i found that when you use milliput you should use some talkum or baby powder so it won't stick to the surface that is used to make the sheet
when you want to apply it to the model just wet one side with water
and if you have s pare clay left you can make sandbags or use it in a diorama

Thanks for the tip I have got lots of spare clay left and I have a huge board the size of a door, its a mdf sheet 5cm in width and I wanted to do a big layout but I might cut it up and do small scenes going though a timeline or something...


Best regards to both,

Duck

[HWGuderian23]

Excellent work on your Tiger Tom !
Zimmerit and paintjob looking fabulous mate... very well done

[Duck]

Excellent work on your Tiger Tom !
Zimmerit and paintjob looking fabulous mate... very well done

Thank you very much On my next project with zimmerit I will get those tools and use the tips I have been told!
tonight I will finish the tracks, how do you add the tracks which are individual?

regards

Duck

[HWGuderian23]

Excellent work on your Tiger Tom !
Zimmerit and paintjob looking fabulous mate... very well done

Thank you very much On my next project with zimmerit I will get those tools and use the tips I have been told!
tonight I will finish the tracks, how do you add the tracks which are individual?

regards

Duck

First of all I assemble the whole suspension of the tank... then I assemble those tracks completely (you have to test how many links are needed individually)! After that I paint them seperately and add them when the model is completely finished (inclusive of the paintjob)!
But beware: sometimes this approach is not possible (especially on several modern tanks which have sidewise covered running gears). In that case I glue the upper hull and the lower hull toghether only then when the tracks on the suspension are added!

[Tiger131]

must say top work on your first tiger and i would agree you are going in at the deep end with the zimmer..but looking real nice

[Duck]

must say top work on your first tiger and i would agree you are going in at the deep end with the zimmer..but looking real nice

Thank you very much, having nice comments from you all encourages me to finish it! This evening I have finished the tracks, trust me... they look better in real life!





They look shoddy because me in my ultimate wisdom decided to glue the drive wheels ....

Regards

duck

[MarkVerploeg]

to bad you had to found out the issue with the drive wheels the hard way
well you learn something on each build
that is the wisdom you take to the next project
good luck finishing this one
cheers Mark

[rm6239]

Nice result for your first build, as Mark says, you learn from every build.

cheers

Rossco

[longlance67]

nice job mate

very fine work



Shane

[Rob]

Nicely done. An ambitious project and you got a fine result

[Duck]

Nice result for your first build, as Mark says, you learn from every build.

cheers

Rossco

nice job mate

very fine work



Shane

to bad you had to found out the issue with the drive wheels the hard way
well you learn something on each build
that is the wisdom you take to the next project
good luck finishing this one
cheers Mark

Thank you guys, right now My cat is sleeping on the barrel and has bent it :/ Hmm. Cats.
Next to finish will be the small painting to the mg on top! and painting the cables!
regards

Duck